288 Astronomical Notes. 



Astronomical Notes for 1914. 



By J. Rutherford, Jarding^ton. 



On August the 21st there was a total edipse of the sun 

 in Eastern Europe, and a large partial eclipse was seen from 

 stations across Great Britain. The time given for Edinburgh 

 was : — First contact, 10.51 a.m. ; middle, 12.2 p.m. ; last 

 contact, 1. 12 (Greenwich mean time). Seeing here was very 

 unsatisfactory, as clouds were constantly floating across the 

 sun's disc. The short views we got were not long enough 

 to observe almost anything. At 10.50 the temperature in 

 the shade was 67 deg. ; at 11.20, 66 deg. ; 11.50, 64 deg. ; 

 at 12.10, 62 deg. From this time till the end it gradually 

 rose again. As the eclipse proceeded, a kind of gloomy, 

 evening feeling seemed to overshadow the lanscape. 



Planets. 

 At the beginning of the year three of these were out of 

 range of observation, viz., Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. 

 Neptune was in Gemini ; Saturn and Mars were very pro- 

 minent in the evening sky in Taurus and Gemini respectively. 

 The Ring System of Saturn was then (and was again at 

 the end of the year) in the best position for observation, 

 being well open. We have during the opening and closing 

 months of the year had several fine views of this charming 

 object. With 5f in. refractor the " Cassini " division of the 

 rings could be easily seen all the way round, also the belts, 

 moons, shadows, etc. This is undoubtedly the most wonder- 

 ful and most interesting planet in our system. From October 

 it has been practically on view throughout the night. 



Mercury. 

 This planet, though readily visible to the naked eye, is 

 but seldom seen because of its nearness to the sun. In the 

 middle of February there was a very favourable opportunity 

 for naked eye observation. On the 22nd it was at its 

 greatest eastern elongation, viz., 18 deg. 6 min. east of the 

 sun, and set one and a half hours behind it. We had a very 



